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Published : 24 Mar 2026, 11:37 PM
Retired three-star general Masud Uddin Chowdhury tried to eliminate the Zia family and kill incumbent Prime Minister Tarique Rahman during the 1/11 military-controlled caretaker government, a court has heard.
Dhaka Metropolitan Public Prosecutor Omar Faruk Faruqi made the remarks while making the case for remanding Gen Masud into police custody, hours after he was arrested at his Baridhara DOHS residence in the early hours of Tuesday.
Masud, who was also identified as a key architect of the "minus-two formula" -- forcing the late Khaleda Zia and Sheikh Hasina into exile -- was presented before the court in connection with a case involving alleged embezzlement of Tk 240 billion and human trafficking.
The case was filed on Sept 3 last year at Paltan Police Station by Altab Khan, proprietor of Afia Overseas.
Presenting the grounds for remand before Metropolitan Magistrate Aminul Islam Junaid, the public prosecutor described the controversial role Masud had played during the 2007-2008 caretaker regime.
"During the so-called 1/11 government, this accused and others formed a 'Truth Commission' to detain and torture businessmen, extorting money from them under the guise of granting pardons," Faruqi told the court.
He alleged that the military-controlled administration specifically targeted the Zia family.
"They wanted to finish the Zia family. But look at the twist of fate, the person they tried to kill through torture [Tarique Rahman] is now the prime minister of this country," the public prosecutor said.
Masud, also the managing director of Five M International Limited, allegedly established a monopoly over manpower export, reportedly embezzling approximately Tk 240 billion in "extortion fees" from various recruiting agents.
Following the hearing, the court granted a five-day remand for the former general.
As police escorted Masud from the courtroom to the lock-up via elevator, a chaotic scene unfolded on the court premises.
Agitated lawyers and protesters gathered at the court building, hurling eggs at the former general while chanting slogans against him.
Despite the heavy police presence, several eggs struck Masud, soaking his bulletproof vest.
Masud served as general officer commanding (GOC) of the Army’s 9th Division in 2007 with the rank of major general. After the political changeover sparked by the events of Jan 11, 2007, he was promoted to lieutenant general.
Masud subsequently played a key role in the 2007-08 military-controlled caretaker government’s hunt for “criminals” of various kinds. He acted as chief coordinator to a powerful government committee dealing with “serious crimes”.
The committee was chaired by retired major general MA Matin, the then advisor in charge of the home ministry.
Masud was elected from the Feni-3 constituency on a Jatiya Party ticket in 2018.
